What IS the rule about Necroposting?

bpsperan · Post by **bpsperan** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:09 am

I'm still considered a newbie (apparently, my old user account got deleted due to inactivity) and I don't mean to necropost. But there are two things about necroposting that confuses me:

1) What is the cut-off date that make something a "necropost"? Is it a week? Is it three weeks? Is it a month? Is it two months? Necroposting was mentioned in the rules. But I don't recall anyone ever mentioning a specific cut-off. This rule seems to vary so much from board to board, anyway. (I'm still not used to this rule. Most boards I participate on have much more traffic and still don't have a necropost rule.)

2) Why is necroposting a problem for low traffic areas such as "MOD-Morrowind" and "Daggerfall"? There are... what... a couple dozen posts a week in "MOD-Morrowind"? And only about a dozen or two threads could truely be consider 'recent' at any given time (if that much). And areas such as "Daggerfall" recieve almost no attention whatsoever. It literally could be months before another Daggerfall player logs in and notices a new post. (I know this from experience.) So a person would almost have to necropost in such an area to reply to anything!

For densely packed, high traffic areas such as General discussion, Morrowind, Oblivion, and MOD-Oblivion I can understand why necroposting should be considered offensive. Otherwise, many would be tempted to resurrect dead threads (often for jokes or meaningless gestures) that would obscure new, more relevant threads. But in areas of the board that receive little or no posting anyway, I don't understand who's being hurt? Especially if the reply is meaningful and directly relevant.

By definition, this rule discourages posting and I think some areas and some topics could use all the helpful replies it can get. (Like some of my Daggerfall threads that never got a reply.) Personally, in reading other threads I find it more irritating to see reminders about not necroposting than the actual resurrection of a "dead" topic. [sigh] Call me dense if you want to, but I just don't get it...

PS: I see that there is another thread here about "Necro-Posting?", but I started a new thread instead of replying. Was that the right thing to do?

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:33 am

well to be honest, i couldn't say. but the thread you posted in was several months old, it wasn't a problem that still needed answering, and your post, while interesting (at least for me) didn't contribute to the topic (the sword) in any way.

let's take that sword thread as an example: a post in there that i wouldn't see as necroposting would be sth like: can i use this/ how did you do that particular part? -> asking questions about the topic.
posting comments about this saying "oh that looks great" are of no use to anyone (because it's and old thread), but if you had some constructive comment about it, i wouldn't say it's necroposting.

in short, i guess it's just a matter of perspective. as for your post, i would have started a whole new thread for it - it's interesting, maybe people want to comment on that, and if they did it in the sword thread, that would be off-topic...

just my opinion though. maybe the mods can explain better or will say sth different

EDIT: i just saw your post in the thread about the I&E mod - although whiskey river necroposted (i'd say so anyway), your's was a good comment. IMO, that's ok (and would have been even without whiskey river's post)

Cactus · Post by **Cactus** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:48 am

I think that's why the rule is so vague, because every situation is different. I mean, if someone asks a question and it gets answered, it'd sort of be necroposting even a week later. However, threads like "Post Your Character" I don't think can be necroposted, as they never really die. They may lie dormant for weeks, even months, but then get revived. So really, it's just a situational thing, and I think every person and every mod has their own POV on the matter.

Logius · Post by **Logius** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 3:39 pm

To be honest, I don't really see a problem with it if, as Caz said, you're actually contributing something to the topic or posting a relevant and related question. Unfortunately we have a lot of members that love to play Moderator's-little-helper whether we ask them to or not. If you'll notice it's mostly members that are issuing grievances against Necro-posting as opposed to the Moderators (who're actually in charge of handling rule violations).

In the case you're probably referring to though, again, I'm in agreement with Caz in that you would have been better off creating a new topic since your comment didn't really further the discussion in the thread so much as introduce completely new information. There are probably plenty of people who would be interested in such a mod and things might have been better served with a whole new topic dedicated to just that topic.

To answer your original question, though, if a topic is more than two weeks old, and the problem/question that initiated the thread has been resolved, then it would probably be best to stay away. As Cactus implied, though, this is just one Moderator's opinion on the matter and my colleagues may have their own perspectives on the subject.

Dogmantra · Post by **Dogmantra** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 6:50 pm

I personally, go by the page 2 rule, which is "If it's not on the first page, it's probably dead" and that holds true generally.

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:40 pm

Logius wrote:Unfortunately we have a lot of members that love to play Moderator's-little-helper whether we ask them to or not. If you'll notice it's mostly members that are issuing grievances against Necro-posting as opposed to the Moderators (who're actually in charge of handling rule violations).

1. it's not a grievance. it's just a piece of advice. if it happened a lot, it would be a grievance. that's why the rule's there, no?

2. i had no idea you didn't like us lending a hand with new members every now and then. i won't any more if you don't want...?

Logius · Post by **Logius** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:02 pm

Caz wrote:2. i had no idea you didn't like us lending a hand with new members every now and then. i won't any more if you don't want...?

No, I didn't mean it like that.

But there are a couple of select members who seem to take personal pleasure in harassing newcomers who make "newbie" mistakes - Necroposting being the most common. One person makes a comment, then another... then another... then another... then we never hear from the new member ever again and anyone who's been visiting without joining thinks they're better off NOT joining at all.

All that's needed is for ONE person to say something in a polite manner. No one else needs to chime in. If the user continues to violate the rules, then we'll take over from there. But y'all don't need to get your hands dirty with this stuff so much although we do appreciate your help (I can't even begin to say how big a help the Report Spambots Here thread has been, and it's all thanks to y'all.)

It's our jobs to sweep the floor and it makes us seem a little unnecessary sometimes when we see y'all grabbing the broom...

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:17 pm

right, understood

Logius wrote: It's our jobs to sweep the floor and it makes us seem a little unnecessary sometimes when we see y'all grabbing the broom...

kind of reminds me of parents letting the children do chores around the house... sometimes they're so eager to help... and then the parents sit back and just have to keep an eye on things so nothing gets out of control...
it's sort of like that around here, isn't it?

satan_n_stuff · Post by **satan_n_stuff** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:19 pm

Caz wrote:right, understood

Logius wrote: It's our jobs to sweep the floor and it makes us seem a little unnecessary sometimes when we see y'all grabbing the broom...
kind of reminds me of parents letting the children do chores around the house... sometimes they're so eager to help... and then the parents sit back and just have to keep an eye on things so nothing gets out of control...
it's sort of like that around here, isn't it?

Probably yes.
Seems like I've been following the rules after all.
( Though it didn't do much good when most of the morrowind forumers politely asked ABQ to stop spamming. Not like we ganged up on him or anything if that's what you're thinking. )
Oh, by the way, Caz, my deepest and sincerest apologies for what I said in the corrupt a wish game, it was just a joke, and it sounded better in my head.
Now imagine my beautiful blue eyes and say you forgive me.

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:53 pm

*thinks hard*

*sigh* oh alright, i forgive you. but only this once!

seriously, satan - chill! i actually laughed out loud when i read that. it was the funniest thing i heard all week...

*cough* I was the one who started on ABQ... but i believe i was friendly enough, and he did improve... but that's a totally different matter.

The Edgy Redguard · Post by **The Edgy Redguard** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:21 am

I posted one about necro posting once, but just because Teinavaa or no mods had been on for a while, just a one time thing.

The King · Post by **The King** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:54 am

I consider the cut-off date two weeks.

satan_n_stuff · Post by **satan_n_stuff** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 8:28 am

Caz wrote:*thinks hard*

*sigh* oh alright, i forgive you. but only this once!

seriously, satan - chill! i actually laughed out loud when i read that. it was the funniest thing i heard all week...

*cough* I was the one who started on ABQ... but i believe i was friendly enough, and he did improve... but that's a totally different matter.

I feel better knowing that I'm forgiven, but what about my blue eyes? Beautiful aren't they?

Master Z · Post by **Master Z** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 6:51 pm

[quote="Logius"][quote="Caz"]2. i had no idea you didn't like us lending a hand with new members every now and then. i won't any more if you don't want...?[/quote]
No, I didn't mean it like that.

But there are a couple of select members who seem to take personal pleasure in harassing newcomers who make "newbie" mistakes - Necroposting being the most common. One person makes a comment, then another... then another... then another... then we never hear from the new member ever again and anyone who's been visiting without joining thinks they're better off NOT joining at all.

All that's needed is for ONE person to say something [b]in a polite manner[/b]. No one else needs to chime in. If the user continues to violate the rules, then we'll take over from there. But y'all don't need to get your hands dirty with this stuff so much although we [b]do[/b] appreciate your help (I can't even begin to say how big a help the Report Spambots Here thread has been, and it's all thanks to y'all.)

It's our jobs to sweep the floor and it makes us seem a little unnecessary sometimes when we see y'all grabbing the broom...[/quote]

I got a message saying I was necroposting... I forgot to look at the dates on the threads...

Apocalypse · Post by **Apocalypse** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 7:05 pm

Necroposting is what you did right now.

Master Z · Post by **Master Z** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 7:06 pm

...why do i keep forgetting to look at the date...

Arzock · Post by **Arzock** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 8:13 pm

This seems the appropriate place to post it so..

Master Z please stop necroposting! Coulsonji (sp?) Has told you 7 times (I counted) and you seem not to listen. I have read your post in this thread, you seem to be against necroposting which is a tad hyprocrytical. So unless you want, and I quote someone to "take it from there" I would suggest you stop necroposting. I wouldn't even have posted but you necroposted Seven times, wehich even from newbie is a considerably large amount. So please take heed and stop it.

Also, are you a mod or something because you sure are acting like it.

Dark Spark · Post by **Dark Spark** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:55 am

Master Z wrote: I got a message saying I was necroposting... I forgot to look at the dates on the threads...

Considering how far back in time you traveled to revive those threads, either your forum viewing preferences were mistakenly set to 'Ascending' instead of 'Descending' by last post date, or you clicked on page 112 and read on from there (which is odd, considering the lattermost pages you can access from the forum index are 114-116 by my reckoning).

WolfGang IceEye · Post by **WolfGang IceEye** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 9:18 am

Logius wrote:
Caz wrote:2. i had no idea you didn't like us lending a hand with new members every now and then. i won't any more if you don't want...?
No, I didn't mean it like that.

But there are a couple of select members who seem to take personal pleasure in harassing newcomers who make "newbie" mistakes - Necroposting being the most common. One person makes a comment, then another... then another... then another... then we never hear from the new member ever again and anyone who's been visiting without joining thinks they're better off NOT joining at all.

All that's needed is for ONE person to say something in a polite manner. No one else needs to chime in. If the user continues to violate the rules, then we'll take over from there. But y'all don't need to get your hands dirty with this stuff so much although we do appreciate your help (I can't even begin to say how big a help the Report Spambots Here thread has been, and it's all thanks to y'all.)

It's our jobs to sweep the floor and it makes us seem a little unnecessary sometimes when we see y'all grabbing the broom...

Read this. All we need is one person to tell him/her to stop in a polite manner and he/she will most likely stop.

The Royal Druid · Post by **The Royal Druid** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:25 am

The necro-posting causes a Catch-22 situation in the rules.

You should not post to a dead thread. However, you should not make duplicate threads.

So, if I want to ask a question and I check back through past threads, what am I supposed to do if I find a thread on the subject I want to ask about, but the answer isn't in one of the posts? The last post to the thread is over a month before? I cannot post to my question to that thread because that is necro-posting; however, I cannot start a new thread to ask my question because that would be posting a duplicate thread?

As a new member who has just been told off for necro-posting to a thread that wasn't even 2 weeks old, I am feeling very aggrieved by rules that seem to discriminate against new members posting questions.

Deandra · Post by **Deandra** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:52 am

There's no easy answer, since you're right--not repeating questions and not necroposting are two often conflicting goals. In an idea world, posters could use some reasonable judgment, and other people would cut them some slack and not be so quick to pile on with telling people not to necropost. I think the answer can be found in the rule itself:

The forum rules wrote:No Necro-posting - This is bringing old topics back to life. If you have a legitimate reason for resurrecting a topic, to ask for more help on the same subject, that is fine. If the topic is weeks old, then they have probably received the help they needed. Making a comment in an old topic only makes you look bad, and is considered to be post flooding.

I added the bold for emphasis.

Now, whether or not other people will respect that part of the rules and not try to minimod when it's inappropriate is another matter entirely. If you feel like you're being harassed by other members, feel free to send the mods a PM.